Book 1 Dark Secrets

Chapter 3

Vishay felt a slight thud that rocked everybody in the troop transport to the right a bit. "We're here," said Speck, putting on his helmet. Vishay put on the hood to her long, grey robe as the door slid open. A blast of cold air hit her face and she shuddered and inhaled sharply.

"Oh, geez, it's freezing," she said rubbing her hands together and sticking them in her robe.

"Good thing we got this armor, eh kid?" Speck said, knocking on his helmet. Vishay stepped off the transport and heard the crunch of snow and ice. Vishay turned to Speck and the rest of the battalion.

"Alright, we enter through the ice caves. When we get there, Speck, you three," Vishay pointed to a group of three clone troopers in front of her, "and I will enter the Western Iz. You four," Vishay pointed to a group still in the transport, " will split off and go to the lighthouse. You five," she pointed to a group to her left, "will head to the citadel and you four," she pointed to the group to her right, "will head to the fortress. Captain Speck, I want you to send fifty men to do a perimeter sweep outside of the walls on foot. Send two more men to do a recon scout further out, but no further than forty klicks. Send twenty men to do a sea patrol, once again no further than forty klicks. The rest of your men will keep patrol on the inside of the walls. Contact me or Speck if any trouble arises.Station them where needed. Dismissed." The clones all went off to their assignments. Speck turned to her as they were walking to the Western Iz, with the other three clones trailing behind them.

"Why can't they go further than forty klicks?" Speck asked, in an almost fake curiosity.

"If there is any trouble within forty klicks, it is an immediate threat, but anything outside of that means they are still preparing." Vishay said, looking at Speck in confusion, " shouldn't you know this, Captain?"

"Oh, I know this," he said tapping himself on the chest, then he gestured to Vishay, " I was just wondering if you knew this." Speck finished speaking as they reached the entrance of the Western Iz. Vishay heard all of the clones switch off the safety setting on their DC-15S's.

"Alright, let's do this," Speck turned to face the rest of the clones, " Men, stay on high alert."

"You got it boss," said one of the clones. They all stepped through the entrance, but there was only utter silence.

"Hello? We are with the Republic, no need to fear," said Vishay, putting her hands on her lightsabers. Speck leaned over towards Vishay.

"Unless you are a clanker," Speck whispered. He laughed when Vishay punched his arm and shushed him. A clone officer stepped out from the dark corridor.

"There are no droids here. We just shut off the lights so if there were any droids we could see them easily and they wouldn't be able to see us," he said, as around fifteen more people appeared around Vishay, Speck and the three others.

"General Kenobi ordered that we evacuate you and bring you aboard the Serenity," Vishay said, gesturing for them to follow them. They all walked out of the Western Iz and brought them to a transport.

"Let's go check on the rest of the teams," Vishay said, walking over to a group of clones who were arguing with each other.

"Is there a problem?" Speck said as they approached the troopers.

"N-No, sir," said the trooper who was stepping forward.

"Then what is all this arguing about?" Speck raised an eyebrow.

"We, uh, got a signal, sir. I didn't think much of it. It just blinked once on the radar, then disappeared,"

"How far away was it," asked Vishay, trying not to let too much panic into her voice.